Princeton Packet
26 August 1981
Great need for paramedics
To the editor:
In reference to the letter regarding the financing of the daytime paramedics for the Princeton First Aid Squad. I cannot understand why the Borough Council is so short sighted as to not do its share in financing the splendid work of the two daytime paid workers. If they had ever experienced the need for the expert care these people give during the daytime hours I’m sure they and the citizens of the borough would gladly share in the expense. Do they realize that many of the daytime calls arc in the borough and that the curtailment of this service would mean that they would not receive the prompt attention that so often is the saving of a life?
I have called the First Aid Squad twice this year and cannot praise them enough. Please forgive the errors but I am suffering from two fractured wrists and this is my first attempt at typing since April.
Hoping that others who feel as I do will write and that the borough will include the First Aid Squad in their yearly budget.
Edith S. Meyerkort
Woodland Drive
Princeton
Council is shortsighted
To the editor:
As a member of Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, and more importantly as a citizen of the community. I’d like to forewarn the residents of a vital service which is in danger of being cut.
The First Aid Squad has a paramedic program which began last year and has proved to be effective. There are two paid paramedics who work during the week day to cover calls and a volunteer crew available at night, the paramedics are always with the ambulance during the day, which makes for a good responding time.
They are also trained to use the $25,000 life mobile equipment. This equipment allows for more care to be given to a patient at the scene rather than losing what could be vital time in transporting a patient immediately.
Last year, when the program was initiated, it was agreed that the borough would put up one-third of the cost while the township would pay the other two- thirds. This meant the borough put in about $11,000, whereas the township was left with approximately a $22,000 bill. Obviously, there is a slight discrepancy here, especially when 57 percent of the first aid calls arc in the borough.
This year the cost of the program is $35,000. The borough had decided they would only allocate $5,000 to this program and the township would maintain their two-thirds of funding. Sept. 25 is the date that the borough’s money runs out for the paramedic program.
The questions raised are: Will the township carry the whole program? Will the borough see the need of the program enough to support it? Will the whole program collapse? Or, will we start charging a fee which would be added to Princeton Medical Center’s bill?
As a member of the community it is very comforting to know that there are two highly trained first aiders available during the day. Furthermore, their technological knowledge has been disseminated throughout the squad to the other members.
The need for this program is great. And unfortunately, most of the ones who recognize the need are those who have used the service. It would really be a disgrace to have to call in a neighboring township’s ambulance service when we could have a quicker service of our own but aren’t concerned enough to support it
Beth Ogilvie
Cadet Princeton First Aid
and Rescue Squad